Founded in 2002, the Society encourages the creation of watercolor at all skill levels and promotes interest, appreciation and enjoyment of watercolor and watermedia. Please feel free to attend one of our meetings. Monthly meetings are held on the first Wednesday of every month, at 10 a.m. at the Cincinnati Art Club, 1021 Parkside Place, Cincinnati, Ohio, unless otherwise noted.

Wednesday, September 16, 2015

Our
Presenter for September was our own Louise Allen. She has been painting now for 15 years, first
with her husband Sam, attending workshops in many places, even overseas in such
places as Paris, Amsterdam, and Nice, and since his passing,
continuing on her own path. Thus, the
title of her Presentation – “Unleashed”.
She has been able to let him go, to ascend. He is no longer “trapped” in her heart. This, after a very spiritual experience, in
which he let her know that he loved her, and that she would be “OK”.

Louise is
currently very interested in working on Yupo (plastic) paper, with alcohol inks
(Ranger Rick or Adirondack). One of her inspirers is Cathy
Taylor. Louise told us it is a good idea
to wear gloves because it is very staining (but, she doesn’t). J
She loves the alcohol ink because the colors are very bright, and they
spread out. First, she spritz’s 90-91%
alcohol on the paper, then drops on the ink in small spots, and lets it move
around. As she watches the action on the
paper, she decides what her painting is going to be about.

Louise has
just one eye, and she believes that she sees the world differently; but then,
everyone does. She encouraged us to look
at the world with two eyes, and then close one, and see the difference. Louise is all about seeing the world
differently, and experiencing it differently, and lately has taken to
meditating to relieve stress. She
breathes in and when breathing out, thinks her mantra, “Be Calm”. Her current morning prayer is “Whatever”, and
evening prayer is “Oh, well”. Her brain
is full of “flowers”.

Examples of
her work show that her brain is full of many other wonderful subjects and
colors, and her creativity is exploding!
She gave us many examples of how to experiment with this media – drip the
ink and then spray with alcohol; blow on the paint and paper with a straw; use
magic markers to add to the paint; outline something in black marker. She uses a heavyweight Yupo paper which can
take more experimenting and abuse.

Louise
showed us how to lift color with a cotton swab dipped in alcohol, how to spray
mousse, or shaving cream in a “cake pan”, then spritz ink on it, swirl a straw
through it, or splatter ink with a toothbrush on it; then lay a piece of Yupo
paper on it, to see what happens. She
sometimes uses a stencil to get an effect.
She doesn’t use a brush or a tool, since she found out she can just
“throw it on”.

But her
“throwing it on” yields wonderful artistic results, particularly when she
frames her work – which she says, is the “name of the game”.

Louise gave
us a delightful and inspiring Presentation, and it speaks volumes that some of
the members were heard to say “I wish we could have her on tape”.

Friday, September 11, 2015

The meeting,
well attended, was brought to order by president, Marilyn Bishop.She introduced our newest member, Marjorie
Grubbs from Bright, Indiana.Welcome,
Marjorie!Guests were also introduced,
Kathy Schmid (Deb), MaDonna (Carol), and Debby (Louise).

As there
were so few people who intended to stay after the meeting to paint, it was
cancelled; maybe next month.

Sally Wester
gave the Treasurer’s Report – we have adequate money for our needs. She did recommend that we consider raising
the entry fee for the annual exhibit.
This will be discussed at the Leadership Team meeting immediately
following this meeting. If anyone would
like to see details of the budget, etc., please talk to Sally.

Everyone was
reminded that copies of the Minutes from last meeting are provided by
Secretary, Joyce Grothaus, on the back table – for those who do not have access
to the Blog. Also, there are forms for
members to fill out and hand in to Joyce about Announcements that you would
like to make, or info for the Blog.

Deb Ward,
Membership Chair, gave our membership number as currently 89.

It was
announced that Nancy Pennington, member, died a few weeks ago; no other info.

Carol McAfee gave a report on the Annual Exhibit at the Barn. She said the Exhibit Judge was really impressed with the caliber of work presented; said he immediately saw at least 15 “winning” paintings; wished he had more awards to give out. He took a great deal of time in his judging. Congratulations to the winners – 1st – Carolyn Hibbard; 2nd – Tom Schroeder; 3rd – Deb Ward. Honorable mentions went to Venetia Wang, Lydia Rittinger, Claudia Taylor, and Carol Steur.

There was a
bit of discussion about what work may be entered into the Exhibit. Only Original Paintings, from your Original
Sources; Work that has not been shown in
previous GCWS shows, may be entered.
This will be emphasized for next year.

Carol
reminded us that she has chaired the Exhibit for two years, and we will need a
new Chair for next year. She has really
good notes, and had everyone who contributed time or effort to making the
Exhibit a success, stand. About half the
members stood; a good sign that the Chair does not have to do all the
work. J
The August dates at the Barn are
not available for 2016, so we are looking at dates in June. The Leadership Team will discuss at their
meeting.

Marilyn
asked the current Leadership Team members to stand and give a short summary of
the duties of their office so that members may consider if they would like to
contribute to the good of the GCWS by assuming an office for next year.

Marilyn,
President, sees this office as being one of “support” – helping the Leadership
Team members do a good job, keeping things “on track”, and supporting members
to receive what they want from their membership.

Deb,
Membership & Blog - Membership is
keeping track of names, info, and numbers of members, having GCWS pamphlets
available for the public when appropriate, and preparing/updating the
Membership Book once each year. The
Blog Chair keeps the Blog updated and interesting, and accepts and publishes
the Minutes and Program Write-up, supplementing it with photos.

Sally,
Treasurer, has performed this duty for five years, and believes that it would
be a good idea for someone else to handle it now. Her main duties are: giving a report at each
meeting, keeping accurate records of incoming and outgoing monies, making
deposits of dues, etc., writing checks for various payments, and preparing the
Budget.

Joyce,
Secretary, discussed taking the Minutes at each meeting, as well as the
Write-up of the Program, and writing them in a timely fashion; sending these
items to the Blog Chair, and printing copies to be taken to the meeting for
members who do not have access to the Blog.
She mentioned that holding an office is a good way to participate in the
group more fully; to get to know other members in a very meaningful way; and
feel a sense of accomplishment.

Joan,
Program Chair, talked about her duties; contacting people to do Programs (with
help from the Leadership Team and members), keep a record of all Programs and
info about them; introduce the Presenters.

Joan, and
Jane, Hospitality Chairs, make sure that our facilities are ready for the
meeting, prepare coffee, and sometimes food;
make/ handle members’ name tags; make members feel welcome.

Dianna,
Workshop Chair, will keep this position again for next year. Thanks, Dianna. She asked for any ideas that members have
for W/S Presenters, to add to her list.
We usually have the W/S in May, but will consider the Fall, if the
Annual Exhibit is in June.

All
positions are eligible for Nominations – either for yourself or another
member. Please keep this in mind for the
October meeting, as Elections will be in November. Are you able to give a bit of your time and
talents to GCWS to keep it a successful endeavor?

Joan
reminded us that members may borrow CDs, and DVDs by signing them out and
signing them back in. It is a great way
to learn a new way of doing something.

Announcements:

Janet
Vennemeyer told the group that Mary Helen Wallace is closing her Painter’s Cove,
and has many paints, etc. for sale.

The Ohio
Watercolor Society Annual Show will be at the MiddletownArtCenter from September 18 thru October
24. Five of our members have entries in
the show.

Diana Marra
has work in the Middletown Arts Festival on Saturday, Sept. 12.

GCWS Program
for October will be “Layers of Understanding” by Trish McKinney, and November
will be “Abstract Art” by Barb Smucker.

There was a
short Critique of paintings presented by new member Marjorie Grubbs.

Diana Marra will have a Solo Exhibit at Evendale Cultural Arts Center, Opening Friday March 2 from 6-8. The Exhibit is called "A Taste of Asia" and will of course have Sake and Sushi in addition to the usual wine-and-cheese Opening fare. Exhibit is also open 12-4 on Sat. and Sunday March 3 & 4. Diana will offer a mini-workshop - "A Taste" - on Wed. March 14, 6:30-8, cost $20 / all materials provided in 3 versions of oriental-style painting. For more information contact Diana.